Here's One Simple Way to Improve Your Memory

In case you've been living under a rock and didn't hear, sleep makes you healthier in about every way possible—it boosts your brainpower, slashes your risk of disease, and helps you work out harder. Now science says you better get enough zzz's if you want to remember anything. Sleeping fires up synapses in the brain—which can strengthen our memories or make us forget them—in a process known as long-term potentiation (or LTP), according to a new study published in the journal PLOS Computational Biology. Past research has shown that sleep deprivation impairs LTP. It's complicated stuff, but basically: Get enough time in dreamland and your brain will solidify memories for the long haul; slack on sleep and, sorry, but it'll start to wipe your slate clean. It's like erasing your mind's ability to #TBT. Got it? Now go ahead and nap your heart out.

In case you've been living under a rock and didn't hear, sleep makes you healthier in about every way possible—it boosts your brainpower, slashes your risk of disease, and helps you work out harder. Now science says you better get enough zzz's if you want to remember anything.

Sleeping fires up synapses in the brain—which can strengthen our memories or make us forget them—in a process known as long-term potentiation (or LTP), according to a new study published in the journal PLOS Computational Biology. Past research has shown that sleep deprivation impairs LTP.

It's complicated stuff, but basically: Get enough time in dreamland and your brain will solidify memories for the long haul; slack on sleep and, sorry, but it'll start to wipe your slate clean. It's like erasing your mind's ability to #TBT.